Footboard for wood-choppers.



J. E. ANDRUS.

FOOTBOARD FOR WOOD CHOPPERS. APPLICATION FILED 0011, 1912.

Patented May 27, 1913.

INVENTOR 7(?, M00

WITNESSES: Z7 WW JAMES R. ATNDBUS, or WOODLAND, WASHINGTON.

FOOTBOARD FOR WOOD-CHOPPERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May '27, 1913.

Application filed October 1, 1912. Serial No. 723,335.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES R. ANDRUs, acitizen of the United States, residing at W'oodland, in the county ofCowlitz and State of WVashington, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Foot boards for WVood-Choppers, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention pertains to an improvement in foot boards for woodchoppers and has for its object to provide such a foot board which isinexpensive in construction, which may be easily and quickly attached toor removed from a tree and which afiords perfect security to the chopperduring his operations. I accomplish these objects by the mechanismillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a planview of the device in position upon a tree. Fig. 2 is a side elevationof same with the tree partly in section, showing the supporting wedge inplace. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the supporting frame in detail.Fig. 4 is a similar view of a sustaining bar, or wedge.

Referring to the drawing in detail, 1 represents the base of thesupporting frame, having a rightangularly disposed front portion 2. Thisupright portion may be made of a separate piece and secured to the baseby any suitable means; but I prefer to form the base and upright all inone as here shown. The frame is constructed by making an incision intothe forward end of the steel blank at a short distance from each edgeand extending approximately midway therein. The intervening portion isthen bent upwardly at right angles to the base forming the said upright.The lateral portion remaining at each side of the base is cut to a pointforming a barb 3 adapted to be inserted into the bark or body of a tree.In the lower portion of the upright member is formed in its median linean opening 4, which has a continuation 5 leading from its upper sidewell toward the extremity of the upright. Along each side of theextended portion is fixed an angle iron 6, so that each of theiradjacent faces forms a bearing surface in line with its respective edgeof the slot. Braces 7 unite the extremity of the upright with the rearportion of the base which gives it the strength necessary to sustain anyweight that may be placed upon it. The rear end of the base is roundedat 8 on a circle Whose center is at the aperture 9.

Through this aperture passes the bolt 10, upon which also is mounted thefoot board 11, which is adapted to swing laterally as indicated at 11Through an aperture in the board at a point just beyond the limit of thebase is secured a bolt 12 having a flanged head 13 which engages overthe rounded end of the base and thus sustains the board in a horizontalposition as it swings on its pivot 10.

In Fig. 1 is shown a bar 14 for supporting the frame. This bar isprovided with a wedge-shaped point 15 so that it can be driven into thetree trunk as seen in Fig. 2. Along the upper edge of the bar is formeda series of notches 17 of suitable size to receive the edge of theupright 2 when the frame is placed upon the bar, through the slot 5.Since some varieties of wood are harder than others, several notches areformed so that the wedge may be inserted to any desired distance, havinga notch close to the body of the tree, in order that the frame may besupported therein, when the barbs are engaged in the bark, with the baseand the foot board in a substantially horizontal position.

The upper edge of that portion which is intended to be driven into thetree is sharpened at 16 so that by driving downward or transversely onthe head 18, the bar will cut its way through the wood and thus beeasily removed from the tree.

The large opening 4 permits the ready insertion of the bar and the slot5 together with the angle irons 6 fit close upon the sides of the barand prevent lateral movement of the frame. With the body of the framehanging below its point of support and the barbs 3 engaged in the treeat each side it will be apparent that the board may be swung to anydesired angle and sustained there with the flange 13 engaged in thenotches 19, so that the operator may work in perfect security.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described a bar having a plurality ofnotches in its upper edge and adapted to be driven horizontally into thebody of a tree, an L-shaped frame with braces between the limbs having avertical slot in one limb through which the said bar passes, the portionof the limb above said slot engaging either of said notches to sustainsaid limb against the body of the tree and barbs projecting forwardlyfrom the base of the frame to engage in the tree.

2. In a device of the character described, a bar having a plurality ofnotches in its upper edge and adapted to be driven horizontally into thebody of a tree, an L-shaped frame with braces between the limbs having avertical slot in one limb through which the said bar passes, the portionof the limb above said slot engaging either of said notches to sustainsaid limb against the body of the tree and means on the frame to en gagethe side of the bar to prevent lateral movement, a barb projectingforwardly from each corner of the base, a foot board mounted upon saidbase and adapted to swing in a horizontal plane and means for securingthe foot board at any angle desired.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES R. ANDRUS. Witnesses:

E. E. DALE, B. G. LANE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

